The Red Ribbon & Blue Ribbon sale Sat 23rd April (Archived #270934)

Rathkeeland Rita is one of the  First progeny for sale from our junior stock bull Haltcliffe Nijinsky she is very long great width and character will grow into a good brood cow. 

Rita was served on 08/04/2022 with Ironstone Gandi, a Wilodge Vantastic son.

• ​​​​Rita's Sire HALTCLIFFE NIJINSKY is a heifers calf, a very sweet correct bull, with easy calving figures. He won first prize at Balmoral twice, and Reserve Male Champion in September, shown in his working clothes. In 2019 he was Limousin Champion & Interbreed Champion at Ballymoney, Armagh and various other shows that year, he was unbeaten in his class. He is Elgin X Vermont, son. His progeny are starting to come through in the herd, excelling themselves both on the ground and coming through in their figures.
• Rita's Dam ERNE JEMIMA is a big able Sylvandene Defoe daughter, a regular breeder and a great asset to the herd. Her first daughter sold to Mr & Mrs C & J Clark, Tullyneil Herd. She has proved to carry on her mother's traits. Rita is halter trained like all our cattle that are entered for this red ribbon sale. She is very quiet and has an exceptionally good nature and easy to work with.

Rita has beef value top 10 per cent of the breed, 200-day milk top 25 per cent of the breed. Rita is halter trained, like all our cattle that are entered for this red ribbon sale. She is very quiet, has an exceptionally good nature and is easy to work with.

Vendor profile:

Raymond and Stephen, the new generation of Crawford Brothers, were next to take over the firm from their father Herbie. Based in Country Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, Crawford Brothers is one of the world’s leading breeders and producers of Limousin Cattle. Their Rathkeeland herd was founded in 1980 with the importation of two Limousin females "Pelisse" and "Ombrage" from the Pompadour herd in France. 

The Fermanagh-based family business has transformed itself from a traditional farming enterprise to an exporting company selling livestock and genetics to 14 countries worldwide. An event to recognise its contribution and to mark 30 years of breeding pedigree Limousin cattle was held in Stormont Wednesday 24 March 2010, where the province’s political leaders praised the brothers’ commitment, innovation and success. The Duke of Westminster, owner and founder of UK breeding company, Cogent, added words of commendation for the family business and praised one bull in particular, “Sauvignon” which attracted attention as the first beef sire to have sexed male semen sold in the UK.

Crawford Brothers livestock are globally recognized Pedigree Limousin Breeders. Having achieved prolific show success, they have achieved what no other breeders have before and that success can't ever be achieved again considering The Royal Show and Dublin Show are no longer in existence. Crawford Brothers are the only Limousin Breeders who have won Limousin Championships at all of the Royal Shows: The Royal Welsh, The Royal Ulster Agricultural Show, The Royal Highland Show, The Great Yorkshire, The Royal Show, and The Royal Dublin Show. However, the most Prolific Championship they have achieved is their ultimate success with Sauvignon. Crawford Brothers celebrated on Monday 6th March 2007 when their five-year-old bull Sauvignon took the Male Championship title at the SIMA/SIMAGENA Show held in Paris. As well as winning his class and standing Male Champion, Sauvignon also took the Champion Carcase Bull award and was European Progeny Champion. British Limousins were truly centre stage as the judging honours were undertaken by Mr Colin Soutter, Herd Manager of Whinfell Park Limousins, Clifton Moor, Penrith, Cumbria.

• Members of Herd Health Scheme
• Tested for Johnes & BVD
• Vaccinated for BVD and Lepto
• Will help with haulage 
• Will give Luck Penny to winning bidder
• Will Export test if required